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The Finance Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Sudhir Mungantiwar, presented the Budget for financial year 2018-19 on March 9, 2018.

Budget Highlights

TheGross State Domestic Product of Maharashtra for 2018-19 (at current prices) is estimated to be Rs 27,96,086 This is 12% higher than the revised estimate for 2017-18.

Total expenditure for 2018-19 is estimated to be Rs 3,67,281 crore, a 13.4% increase over the revised estimate of 2017-18. In 2017-18, there was an increase of Rs 23,254 crore (7.7%) of expenditure in the revised estimate over the budget estimate.

Total receipts (excluding borrowings) for 2018-19 are estimated to be Rs 2,88,234 crore, an increase of 9 % as compared to the revised estimates of 2017-18. In 2017-18, total receipts exceeded the budgeted estimate by Rs 14,897 crore.

Revenue deficit for the next financial year is targeted at Rs 15,375 crore, or 0.5 % of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Fiscal deficit is targeted at Rs 50,586 crore (1.8 % of GSDP).

Departments of school education and sports, urban development, rural development, and home received the highest allocations.

Policy Highlights

Educational concession: To enable more students from economically weaker sections to claim fee reimbursement in higher education under an existing state scheme, the family income threshold has been raised from Rs six lakh to Rs eight lakh.

Skill development: Six skill development universities will be set up with the help of the central government and private participation. The state will also launch a Foreign Employment and Skill Development Centre in 2018-19.

Rural sewerage processing: The Chief Minister Rural Sewerage Processing and Management Project to be implemented in villages with a population of more than 15,000.

New policies: New policies focussed on Fintech and Electric Vehicle Manufacturing have been launched for the provision of innovative financial services to the poor, and reduction of carbon footprint respectively.

Maharashtra’s Economy

Share of major sectors: Agriculture contributes 11.9% to the GSDP, industry and services contribute 33.6% and 54.5% respectively. The GSDP is estimated to grow at 7.3% in 2017-18, lower than the 10% growth in 2016-17.

Sectoral growth: The real growth of the agriculture sector is expected to register negative growth at -8.3% in 2017-18 as compared to 22.5% in 2016-17. Industry and services are expected to grow at 6.5% and 9.7% in 2017-18 as compared to 6.9% and 9.6% respectively in 2016-17.

Per capita income: Maharashtra’s per capita income (2016-17) at Rs 1,65,491 exceeds the national per capita income at Rs 1,03,870.

Figure 1: Growth in state GDP and sectors in Maharashtra (in%) (2015-17)

Source: Economic Survey 2017-18, Government of Maharashtra; PRS.

Note: 2016-17 (Revised Estimates); 2017-18 (Advance Estimates)

Budget Estimates for 2018-19

The total expenditure in 2018-19 is targeted at Rs 3,67,281 This is 13.4% higher than the revised estimates of 2017-18. This expenditure is proposed to be met through receipts (other than borrowings) of Rs 2,88,234 crore and borrowings of Rs 79,148 crore. Total receipts for 2018-19 (other than borrowings) are expected to be 10.9 % higher than the revised estimate of 2017-18.

Capital expenditure for 2018-19 is proposed to be Rs 65,938 crore, which is an increase of 28.8% over the revised estimates of 2017-18. This includes expenditure which affects the assets and liabilities of the state, and leads to creation of assets (such as bridges and hospital), and repayment of loans, among others.

In 2018-19, the government budgets to spend Rs 1,02,668 crore on paying salaries to its employees. In addition, the government will spend Rs 27,378 crore on pensions. Together, they constitute 35% of total expenditure.

Revenue expenditure for 2018-19 is proposed to be Rs 3,01,343 crore, which is an increase of 10.6% over revised estimates of 2017-18. This expenditure includes payment of salaries, maintenance, etc.

In 2018-19, Maharashtra is expected to spend Rs 66,646 crore on servicing its debt (i.e., Rs 28,462 crore on repaying loans, and Rs 38,185 crore on interest payments. This is higher than the revised estimates of 2017-18.

Revenue receipts in the form of central grants are expected to fall by 6.2% in 2018-19. On the other hand, the state’s share in central taxes is expected to rise by 16.9% in 2018-19. This is primarily due to an increase in receipts from Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) and Corporation Tax.

The total revenue receipts for 2018-19 are estimated to be Rs 2,85,968 crore, an increase of 11% over the revised estimates of 2017-18. Of this, Rs 2,10,825 crore will be raised by the state through its own resources (74% of the revenue receipts), and Rs 75,143 will be devolved by the centre in the form of grants and the state’s share in taxes crore (26% of the revenue receipts).

Non Tax Revenue: Maharashtra has estimated to generate Rs 22,785 crore through non-tax sources in 2018-19. Of this, Rs 5,000 crore will be received from urban development, which accounts for 22% of the total non-tax revenue.

Table 4: Break up of state government receipts (Rs crore)

Item

2016-17 Actuals

2017-18 Budgeted

2017-18 Revised

% change from BE 2017-18 to RE of 2017-18

2018-19 Budgeted

% change from RE 2017-18 to BE 2018-19

State's Own Tax

1,36,616

1,53,437

1,64,979

7.52%

1,88,040

13.98%

State's Own Non-Tax

12,709

20,156

21,671

7.51%

22,785

5.14%

Share in Central Taxes

33,715

37,405

37,203

-0.54%

43,515

16.96%

Grants-in-aid from Centre

21,653

32,739

33,752

3.09%

31,629

-6.29%

Total Revenue Receipts

2,04,693

2,43,738

2,57,605

5.69%

2,85,968

11.01%

Borrowings

50,554

55,537

63,841

14.95%

79,148

23.98%

Other receipts

1,746

1,227

2,257

83.95%

2,266

0.40%

Total Capital Receipts

52,300

56,764

66,097

16.44%

81,414

23.17%

Total Receipts

2,56,993

3,00,502

3,23,702

7.72%

3,67,382

13.49%

Sources: Maharashtra Budget Documents 2018-19; PRS.

Tax Revenue: Total own tax revenue of Maharashtra is estimated to be Rs 1,88,040 crore in 2018-19. The composition of the state’s tax revenue is shown in Figure 2. The tax to GSDP ratio is targeted at 6.7% in 2018-19, which is marginally higher than 6.6% estimated in the revised estimates of 2017-18. This implies that growth in collection of taxes has been at par with the growth in the economy expected this year.

Figure 2: Composition of Tax Revenue in 2018-19 (BE)

State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) is expected to be the largest (48%) component of Maharashtra’s own taxrevenue in 2018-19. It is expected to generate Rs 90,140 crore. This is 77% more than the revised estimates in 2017-18.

Further, the government is expected to generate Rs 35,301 crore through sales tax (19%) and Rs 24,000 crore from stamp and registration fees (13%).

In addition, revenue will be generated through state excise duties, taxes on electricity, vehicles, etc.

Maharashtra witnessed an increase in tax collections during 2017-18. The tax and non-tax revenues (revised estimates) of the state are expected to be more than what was budgeted for in 2017-18 by 7.5% each. This implies that more revenues were collected by the state than expected. Apart from SGST, the increase in state’s own taxes was driven by stamp and registration fees, taxes on goods and passengers, and electricity tax.

Debt as a percentage of GSDP has come down from 21.3% to 16.5% during the period 2008-09 to 2018-19 (BE). However, from 2016-17 onwards, this percentage has been increasing.

Revenue deficit increased from a budgeted target of Rs 4,511 crore to a revised estimate of Rs 14,843 crore (229% increase) in 2017-18. This may be attributed to the excess expenditure in the agriculture (due to farm loan waiver) and energy sectors.

Revenue deficit: It is the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts. A revenue deficit implies that the government needs to borrow in order to finance its expenses which do not create capital assets.

The budget estimates a revenue deficit of Rs 15,375 crore (or 0.5% of GSDP) in 2018-19. This implies that revenue receipts are expected to be lower than the revenue expenditure, resulting in a deficit. The estimate indicates that the state is not expected to meet the target of eliminating revenue deficit, prescribed by the 14th Finance Commission.

Fiscal deficit: It is the excess of total expenditure over total receipts. This gap is filled by borrowings by the government, and leads to an increase in total liabilities. In 2018-19, fiscal deficit is estimated to be Rs 50,586 crore, which is 1.8% of the GSDP. The estimate is within the 3% limit prescribed by the 14th Finance Commission.

Outstanding Liabilities: It is the accumulation of borrowings over the years. In 2018-19, the outstanding liabilities are expected at 16.5% of the GSDP.

Table 5: Budget targets for deficits for Maharashtra in 2018-19 (% of GSDP)

Year

Revenue

Fiscal

Debt Stock

Deficit (-)/Surplus (+)

Deficit (-)/Surplus (+)

2016-17

-0.38%

-1.71%

16.16%

RE 2017-18

-0.59%

-1.85%

16.30%

BE 2018-19

-0.55%

-1.81%

16.52%

Sources: Maharashtra Budget Documents 2018-19; PRS.

Figures 3 and 4 show the trend in deficits and outstanding liabilities targets from 2016-17 to 2018-19:

Figure 3: Revenue and Fiscal Deficit (as % of GSDP)

Sources: Maharashtra Budget Documents 2018-19; PRS.

Figure 4: Total Debt Stock (as % of GSDP)

Sources: Maharashtra Budget Documents 2018-19; PRS.

Annexure

The charts below compare Maharashtra’s expenditure on key sectors as a proportion of its budget, with 19 other states (including Maharashtra).[1]

Education: Maharashtra has allocated 18% on education in 2018-19. This is higher than the average expenditure allocated to education by 18 other states (using 2017-18 BE). The allocation remains at 18% in 2018-19, same as 2017-18 (RE).

Health: Maharashtra has allocated 4% of its total expenditure on health, which is lower than the average expenditure of 18 other states. The state’s allocation to health has remained constant at 4% since 2016-17.

Agriculture: The state has allocated 5% of its total budget on agriculture. This is significantly lower than the allocations of 18 other states (6.4%). Spending on agriculture reduced from 7% in 2016-17 to 5% in 2017-18.

Rural development: Maharashtra has allocated 5% of its expenditure on rural development. The average of 18 other states is 5.6%. Rural development saw a marginal increase from 5% in 2016-17 to 6% in 2017-18. It is estimated at 5% in 2018-19.

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